Laboratory Services
Contact: John Seiple
Phone: (860) 889-8331, ext. 4339
Address: 326 Washington Street | Norwich, CT 06360
The Clinical Laboratory & Anatomical Pathology department of The William W. Backus Hospital encompasses a wide range of services as described in the following paragraphs.
Phlebotomy
The Phlebotomy staff at the Backus Hospital consists of 28 hard working men and women. Each day the team is dispatched to all floors for rounds so that the attending physician can treat their patient accordingly. The phlebotomy team also staffs an outpatient lab, multiple off-site locations and provides house-call services for those who are homebound. The outpatient locations provide services to hundreds of patients on a daily basis.
Blood Bank
The blood bank section of the laboratory tests for patient's blood types and for the presence of unexpected antibodies that a person may develop through exposures from previous transfusions or pregnancies. They keep an inventory of blood products supplied by the American Red Cross in Farmington, available to support the needs of doctors treating oncology patients, traumas, surgeries, as well as other conditions that may warrant their services. They collect autologous units of blood that a patient donates ahead of time for use during elective surgery.
Microbiology
Clinical microbiologists serve an important role in the diagnosis, management and prevention of infections to patients. The identification of organisms is like a puzzle. These skilled professionals use tools such as culture media, biochemicals and high-tech instrumentation to solve these puzzles. Early diagnosis and treatment are usually more urgent with infectious disease than with any other type of disease process. The sooner the source of an infection is identified, the sooner the patient is on the road to recovery. Physicians along with the microbiology team, work together to provide a quick and accurate diagnosis to aid in a patient's recovery.
Hematology
Hematology is an essential medical science that analyzes blood components. White and red cells as well as platelets are counted in sophisticated state-of-the-art instrumentation. Medical technologists and technicians examine cells under the microscope to check for abnormalities. The field of hematology also includes coagulation, which is the study of bleeding disorders such as hemophilia and the monitoring of anti-coagulation therapy. Medical technologists and technicians play a vital role in guiding the physician in the development of a patient's diagnosis.
Urinalysis
Urinalysis includes examination for urinary color, appearance, specific gravity, pH, protein, sugar, ketones, red and white blood cells as well as microscopic examination.
Chemistry
The function of the clinical chemistry laboratory is to perform qualitative and quantitative analysis on blood, urine and body fluids. Skilled technologists and technicians using sound analytical methods and the most up-to-date instrumentation accurately perform these tests. Results of such tests as glucose, cholesterol, thyroid function, enzymes and therapeutic drug levels are useful to the physician in the diagnosis of disease.
Histology
The histologist is responsible for the processing of tissue samples from specimens obtained from surgeries, doctor's offices, and autopsies.
Office Staff
The office staff consists of secretaries and a receptionist. They give out results and generate reports as well as transcribing pathology and cytology reports. The office staff assists in directing phone calls and keeps the communications open between the phlebotomy staff and the patient care units. They also send out pathology reports for secondary evaluation.
In-Home Blood Drawing
When an Individual is in need of blood work, but is housebound due to recent surgery, severe illness, or lack of transportation, the Backus Hospital Clinical Laboratory department is on the move -- visiting the patient in the home to provide this important service.
While Backus Hospital's off-site blood drawings stations in Norwich, Colchester, Gales Ferry, and Jewett City make routine laboratory tests much more convenient for the eastern Connecticut community, there are those people who cannot leave their homes.
Schedule for In-Home Services
Monday and Thursday -- Norwich, Jewett City, Gales Ferry, Griswold, Ledyard, Preston and Voluntown
Tuesday and Friday -- Norwich, Jewett City, Baltic, Canterbury, Franklin, Plainfield, Lisbon, and Sprague
Wednesday -- Norwich, Jewett City, Bozrah, Colchester, Lebanon, Montville, Oakdale, Salem, and Uncasville